Video game tracer

ABSTRACT

A system for playing video games included is multiple hand-held game controllers, a console with multiple input/output ports, and cables connecting each controller to one of the input/output ports. A pair of tracer elements that are removably attached to each end of the cable having the same shape and color. A second pair of tracer elements are attached to a second cable that are visually distinguishable from the first pair of tracers. The tracers allow players to know which input/output port their hand held controller relates to, more importantly, which character or object they are controlling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to video game systems in general, and tovideo games with multiple player controllers in particular. In manyvideo games involving more than one player, it can be confusing to theplayers and onlookers as to which player is controlling a particularcharacter or object on the screen. This is particularly true whenplayers are seated in positions that bear no relation to the orientationof their respective characters or objects on the screen.

[0002] Some prior art video game systems, such as Nintendo 64, havepermanently colored controllers, a cable and a permanent cable connectorhaving the same color as the controller. Each controller is a differentcolor. However, in many recent videogame systems, all the controllersare the same color, as are the connectors that attach to the gameconsole. It is an object of the invention to provide a removable devicethat enables players to visually identify which controllers and cablesare attached to the respective ports of the game console.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention provides a way for players to identify theircontroller with the respective input/output port on the console and,more importantly, the character and/or object displayed on the screen.Each player is provided with a pair of markers or tracers that can beremovably attached to the cable connecting the controller to the gameconsole. Typically, the first tracer is attached to the cable near thegame controller. The second tracer of the pair is connected to the cablenear the console. The tracers can vary in shape and color, however, thekey is that they are visually distinguishable from the tracers ofanother player. In a preferred embodiment, the tracers are made of aresilient plastic or polyurethane material and are held in place on thecable by compression or friction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 depicts a hand-held controller, a video game console andthe cable that connects them.

[0005]FIG. 2 depicts the controller, console and cable of FIG. 1 in atypical multi-player application.

[0006]FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of the tracer attached to the cablethat connects a hand-held controller to a video game console.

[0007]FIG. 4 presents several views of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0008]FIG. 5 depicts several views of a second embodiment.

[0009]FIG. 6 depicts several views of a third embodiment.

[0010]FIG. 7 depicts several views of a fourth embodiment.

[0011]FIG. 8 depicts a tracer wrap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] As used in this application, a tracer is a removable physicalindicator that is attached to each end of the cable that connects ahand-held video game controller to the input/output port of the console.It is important that the tracers for one game controller are visuallydistinguishable from the tracers for another game controller. Thetracers match in color and shape and are unique in color to eachcontroller. Although the possible tracer shapes are many, tracers in theform of cylinders, rings, spheres, and discs are shown in theaccompanying figures. Each tracer has a slit or opening from its firstend to the second end to permit the insertion of the cable. The traceris preferably made of a molded plastic or polyurethane material that isresilient enough to secure the cable by compression or a friction fit.An optional tracer wrap having an opening from its first end to thesecond end overlaps or encompasses the cylindrical tracer. The tracerwrap is resilient enough to secure the tracer by compression or frictionfit.

[0013]FIG. 1 displays a typical video game hand-held controller 20, itscable 30, and the respective input/output port 10 of the game console 1where the cable attaches. The game console contains electronics andsoftware that are necessary to operate the video game. The software andelectronics form no part of the invention. The game controllers mayinclude various control features such as a joystick and pushbuttons thatenable the player to manipulate the player's character or object on thetelevision screen (not shown). The actual configuration of thecontroller is not critical to the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 depicts a typical multiplayer video game system includingthe video game console 1 with multiple input/output ports 10, 12, 14,16. The game includes controllers 20, 22, 24, and 26. The controllersinclude their respective cables 30, 32, 34, and 36. FIG. 2 depicts atypical situation in which the various game controller cables areintertwined with each other and the physical position of the variouscontrollers bear no relation to the order of the input/output ports onthe console. Under these circumstances players may be come confusedabout which game character or object they are controlling. Thisconfusion can also extend to observers of the game.

[0015]FIG. 3 depicts the location on the video game system where tracerscan be placed. Indicated is game console 1 with input/output port 10,cable 30 and hand-held controller 20. The first tracer 40 is locatednear the game console. The second tracer 41 is positioned near thecontroller. The tracers shown in FIG. 3 are in the form of a taperedcylinder. These tracers are of the same relative size, shape and colorso that a player can determine and remember which input/output port hiscontroller is connected to and therefore which character or object onthe screen is his.

[0016]FIG. 4 shows in greater detail the tapered cylindrical tracers 40,41. Running length-wise is a slit 50 that permits access to an innercavity 60 that is sized to encompass a standard video cable. The traceris resilient enough to grip the cable securely. The slit 50 and innercavity of a tracer 60 are used throughout the drawings to depict thesame features of similar shapes.

[0017]FIG. 5 depicts a ring-shaped or toroidal tracer 42. It has a slit50 permitting access to an inner cavity 60, sized to encompass astandard video cable, and resilient enough to grip the cable securely.

[0018]FIG. 6 depicts a spherically shaped tracer 44. It has a slit 50running length-wise to permit access to an inner cavity 60, sized toencompass a standard video cable, and resilient enough to grip the cablesecurely.

[0019]FIG. 7 depicts a disc shaped tracer 46. It has a slit 50 runninglength-wise to permit access to an inner cavity 60, sized to encompass astandard video cable, and resilient enough to grip the cable securely.

[0020]FIG. 8 depicts a further feature of the invention in the form of atracer wrap 48. The tracer wrap has an opening 70 from one end to theother allowing the wrap to encompass a tracer and displays a productlogo or other indication.

I claim:
 1. A system for playing video games comprising: a video gameconsole having a plurality of input/output ports; a plurality of gamecontrollers; a first cable connecting a first game controller to one ofsaid input/output ports of said console; a second cable connecting asecond game controller to a second one of said input/output ports ofsaid console; a pair of tracer elements, one of which is removablyattached to each end of said first cable and adjacent to said firstcontroller and said first input/output port; a second pair of tracerelements, one of which is removably attached to each end of said secondcable and adjacent to said second controller and said secondinput/output port; wherein said first pair of tracer elements isvisually distinguishable from said second pair of tracer elements. 2.The system of claim 1 wherein said first pair of tracer elements is adifferent color from said second pair of tracer elements.
 3. The systemof claim 2 wherein said tracer elements are made of molded plastic. 4.The system of claim 2 wherein said tracer elements are made ofpolyurethane.
 5. The system of claim 3 wherein said first pair of tracerelements form a substantially cylindrical shape.
 6. The system of claim3 wherein said first pair of tracer elements form a substantially ringshape.
 7. The system of claim 3 wherein said first pair of tracerelements form a substantially spherical shape.
 8. The system of claim 3wherein said first pair of tracer elements form a substantially discshape.
 9. The system of claim 4 wherein said first pair of tracerelements form a substantially cylindrical shape.
 10. The system of claim4 wherein said first pair of tracer elements form a substantially ringshape.
 11. The system of claim 4 wherein said first pair of tracerelements form a substantially spherical shape.
 12. The system of claim 4wherein said first pair of tracer elements form a substantially discshape.
 13. A tracer of molded plastic having an internal cavity of afirst diameter and a slit extending from a first end of said tracer to asecond end, said slit sized to permit the insertion of a cable having asecond diameter into the interior of said tracer, wherein said firstdiameter is substantially equal to said second diameter and said traceris resilient enough to secure said cable by a friction fit.
 14. Thetracer of claim 13 wherein said shape is substantially a taperedcylinder.
 15. A tracer of claim 14 further comprising a removable wraphaving an internal cavity of a substantially similar shape and size asthe exterior of said tracer, a slit extending from a first end of saidwrap to a second end enabling said wrap to encompass said tracer, saidwrap being resilient enough to secure said cylinder.
 16. The tracer ofclaim 13 wherein said shape is substantially a ring.
 17. The tracer ofclaim 13 wherein said shape is substantially a sphere.
 18. The tracer ofclaim 13 wherein said shape is substantially a disc.
 19. A tracer ofpolyurethane having an internal cavity of a first diameter and a slitextending from a first end of said tracer to a second end, said slitsized to permit the insertion of a cable having a second diameter intothe interior of said tracer, wherein said first diameter issubstantially equal to said second diameter and said tracer is resilientenough to secure said cable by a friction fit.
 20. The tracer of claim19 wherein said shape is substantially a tapered cylinder.